IMF Exits Belarus

President Lukashenka has suggested his country has no use for the IMF (file photo) 3 December 2004 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced today that it would close its office in Belarus.

The IMF said in a statement that it was shutting down the office because it has no active projects in Belarus and expects none in the future.

The last time the IMF extended credit to Belarus was in 1990, and Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said earlier this year that his government has no need for IMF assistance.

The IMF is an international financial institution that allies 184 countries.

(dpa)